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St. Pete Bank Stakeout Nets Serial Robber, Police Say

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By STEPHEN THOMPSON | The Tampa Tribune

Published: February 7, 2008

ST. PETERSBURG - Detectives today arrested a St. Pete Beach man they say robbed seven banks five in St. Petersburg, one in Pinellas Park and one in Lakeland.

He was identified as Douglas Charles Smith, 47, of 8001 Blind Pass Road, Apt. 2.

Because many of the banks robbed are in the west part of the city, undercover detectives decided to keep several banks on the city's west end under surveillance, said St. Petersburg Police Department spokesman Bill Proffitt.

One of the detectives saw the Smith enter the Bank of St. Petersburg, 777 Pasadena Ave., in South Pasadena, Proffitt said. He was wearing a hooded sweatshirt and had a cloth over the lower part of his face.

After a brief time inside, he ran from the bank and left the area in a tan or cranberry 1998 Chrysler Sebring sedan, Proffitt said.

Undercover investigators moved stopped the car at 15th Avenue North and 58th Street and arrested Smith, Proffitt said. Cash from the robbery was recovered. No gun was found in the car.

Smith told police he committed several of the robberies, Proffitt said. He also told investigators he purchased the Chrysler Tuesday for $2,000. The vehicle has been seized.

Smith also told police he has a powder and crack cocaine habit and a sizeable debt for legal services, Proffitt said.

Reporter Stephen Thompson can be reached at (727) 451-2336 or spthompson@tampatrib.com.

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